Cylinder lock



Jan. 24, 1939.

F. K. HEYER.

CYLINDER LOCK Filed Aug. 5, 1936 ,c1 #eye/- A TTORNEY Patented Jan. 24, 1939 UNITED STATE-s PATENT OFFICE CYLINDER LOCK Application' August 5, 1936, serial No. 94,306

21 claims;

This invention relates to a pick-proof cylinder lock. For many years experts in the lock art have attempted to devise an effective pick-proof cylinder, and many types of structures have resulted. It is extremely diiiicult to devise a pickproof cylinder which is comparatively cheap to manufacture, is actually pick-proof, and is reliable in action so that it will operate properly when actuated by a proper key.

My invention provides an improvement in a cylinder lock whereby it may readily be made substantially pick-proof without the addition of complicated structure, and while substantially pick-proof, will be reliable in action when actuated by a proper key. Incidentally, my invention is adapted for use in a sliding tumbler or pin tumbler lock, and is probably effective in any type of lock in which a key operated plug operates relatively to a lock body when properly released by a key.

More particularly, my invention comprises a cylinder lock having a rotatablekey plug adapted to be rotated relatively to a control member when the tumblers carried by the key plug are properly set. In a sliding tumbler lock, the control member will be a sleeve having the usual tumbler locking grooves. 0n the other hand, in a pin tumbler lock, the control member will be the usual sleeve and driver bible. This control member, regardless of the type of lock construction, is mounted for rotation and preferably, this rotation is limited to a very slight amount ineffective to operate the locking structure. Because the control memberis mounted for rotation, however slight it may be, the application of picking torque to the key plug tends to rotate the control member with the key plug. This rotation of the control member by the application of picking torque, is relied upon to lock the key plug against rotation suicient to actuate whatever locking mechanism is provided.

More particularly, a locking pin is provided for locking the key plug and control member together so that relative rotation between the two will not be possible. As a further feature of the invention, the locking pin is utilized for Ynormally holding the control member in a predetermined operative position. The locking pin therefore really has two functions.

For a detailed description of my invention, I

shall now refer to the drawing wherein Fig. l is a front view of a cylinder lock to which my invention is applied. Fig. 2 is a side view, and Fig. 3 is a rear view of the cylinder lock of Fig. 1. Figs. 4, 5, 6 and '7 are sections taken substantially along lines 4-4 of Fig. 2, showing the cylinder parts in Various positions. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the key plug used in Figs. 1-7, inclusive, showing the special feature thereof. Fig. 9 is a modification of another application of my invention to a cylinder lock of the pin tumbler type. Fig. 10 is a section` through a sliding tumbler lock showing the application of my invention to that type of cylinder.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, my cylinder lock body is indicated by reference numeral I0, and my plugdby reference numeral I'I. Instead of having the driver containing bible fixed to the cylinder body, I provide a control member comprising a bible portion I2 and a sleeve portion I3 which operates just as does the stationary bible and the adjacent cylinder lock body portion in a regular cylinder pin tumbler lock.

For maintaining the driver bible I2 and the sleeve portion I3 in a particular proper initial position, I utilize a pin I4 carried in a bore I5 of the bible I2 and spring pressed by a spring I6, so as to bring the head I'I of the pin I4 into a depression I8 in the lock body I0, as is probably best shown in Fig. 4. The key plug Il carries a series of key operated tumblers I9, and the driver bible I2 has a series ofdrivers 2,0 spring pressed by springs 20a in a manner well understood by those skilled in the art.

The key plug II has a bore 2| maintained opposite the pin I4, as shown in Fig. 4, so that the pin I4 may move downwardly against the pressure of spring I6 into, the said bore 2 I to lock the key plug II to the driver bible I2 and sleeve I3. It should bempointed out at this time that the bore 2| is located as ,shown lin Fig. 8, that is, between a pair of `tumbler bores, so that the drivers Z will` not enter the bore 2I. If desired, the bore 2| Lmay be put in alignment with one of the tumbler bores,v but in that-case, it will be of smaller diameter than the driver `2|) to bebrought opposite it, so` that the driver cannot enter the said bore.

Fig. 5 illustrates the action ,of the parts of Fig. 4 when the tumblers I9 are set by a key 22, as shown in section. Rotation in a counter clockwise direction of the key plug II is then possible, the driver bible I2 and the sleeve portion, I3 remaining in the same position as in Fig. 4, due to the action of the pin I4, as will be quite readily understood by those skilled in the art.

Fig. 6 illustrates just what happens when picking torque is applied to the parts of Fig. Y4 in a manner to facilitate the picking of the drivers and tumblers, as is well understood, In such a case,

the drivers 20, not being properly set by a key as in Fig. 5, lock the sleeve I3 and bible I2 to the key plug I I so that torque applied to the key plug II will tend to rotate the bible and sleeve relatively to the lock body I0 to the limit of the rotation permitted by the'construction of the parts.

Such rotation will cause the pin I4 to leave the depression I8 and slide downwardly against the pressure of spring I6 until the lower end of the pin enters the bore 2| of the key plug. At this point, the key plug Will be locked securely to the bible and sleeve I2, I3, and even if the drivers 20 are picked, as shown in Fig. '7, rotation of the key plug II will not be possible, as is quite obvious.

In Fig. 9, I show a modification of my invention in which a locking bore 2Ia functioning as does the bore 2I in Fig. 4, is on the rear end of the key plug. The locking pin Illa is the same as the locking pin I4 of Fig. 4, except that it is mounted on the end of the bible l2 instead of on the side of the bible as in Fig. `l.V An auxiliary pin 25 maintains the bible I2 in a central position, being chamfered as at 26 for cooperation with the upper rounded end I'Ia of the pin I4a. It will be quite readily understood that the application of picking torque to the key plug I I in Fig. 9 will cause a rotation of the bible I24 and sleeve I3, as in Fig. 6, and will force the pin Illa downwardly into the bore 2Ia, thus setting up the same conditions as set up in Figs. 6 and 7 in the first modication described.

In Fig. 10, I show the application of my invention to a sliding tumbler lock. There, instead of a sleeve and driver bible, I use a control sleeve 2l which has the usual tumbler locking slots 28 cooperating with the spring pressed sliding tumblers 29, in a manner well understood by'those skilled in the art. The sleeve 21, instead of being integral with Vthe cylinder, is separate from the cylinder, and rotation thereof relatively to the cylinder is limited to the amount permitted by its slot 21a and lug 2lb on the lock body.

The sleeve 21 is maintained in a proper operative position by a pin 30 having a rounded head 3 I, very much the same as the bible I2 is retained in proper position by the pin I4 in the modification of Fig. 4. Upon the application of picking torque to the key plug 32, carrying the sliding 'tumblers 29, the control sleeve 2l will also be rotatedand the pin 3D will be cammed upwardly into a locking slot 33 of the key plug 21, so as to lock the key plug and the sleeve together in very much the same way as in` the modifications already described.

While I have described generally my invention and several modifications of the same, it should be understood that my contribution to the art is relatively broad, and I do not wish to be limited except as may be required by the state of the art.

I claim:

1. In a lock of the class described, a lock body, a key plug, a series of tumblers, a control part to which said key plug is locked by said tumblers and relatively to which said key plug rotates when said tumblers are properly aligned by a key, means mounting said control part for rotation in said lock body, said control part and key plug being rotatable together when picking torque is applied to said key plug in an attempt to pick the tumblers, and means movable relatively to said control part and adapted to lock said plug to said control part, actuated by the rotation of said control part by the application of picking torqueto the key plug. Y

2. In a lock of the class described, a lock body,

a key plug, a 'series of tumblers, a control part relatively to which said key plug rotates when said tumblers are properly aligned by a key, means mounting said part for rotation in said lock body, said part and key plug being rotatable together when picking torque is applied to said key plug in an attempt to pick the tumblers, and means movable relatively to said control part and adapted to lock said plug to said control part actuated by the rotation of said control part by the application of picking torque to the key plug.

3. In a lock of the class described, a lock body, a key plug, tumblers in said key plug, a driver sleeve and bible relatively to which said key plug rotates when its tumblers are properlyl aligned by a key, means mounting said driver sleeve and bible for rotation in said lock body, said driver sleeve and bible and key plug being rotatable together when picking torque is applied to said key plug in an attempt to pick the tumblers, and means adapted to lock said plug against release rotation actuated by the rotation of said driver' sleeve and bible by the application of picking torque to the key plug.

4. In a lock of the class described, a lock body,

a key plug, a sleeve and driver bible relatively to which said key plug rotates, drivers and tumblers in said key plug and bible adapted to lock said plug and bible to prevent rotation of the key plug relatively to said sleeve and driver bible until said tumblers are properly aligned by a key, means mounting said sleeve and driver bible for rotation with said key plug upon application of picking torque to said keyV plug, and a locking pin movable into locking engagement with said key plug upon rotation of said sleeve and driver bible by the application of picking torque to said key plug.

5. In a lock of the class described, a lock body, a key plug, a sleeve and driver bible relatively to which said key plug rotates, drivers and tumblers in said key plug and bible adapted to lock said plug and bible to prevent rotation of the key plug relatively to said sleeve and driver bible until said tumblers are properly aligned by a key, means mounting said sleeve and driver bible for rotation with said key plug upon application of picking torque Vto said key plug, a detent maintained spring pressed into a position to yieldingly maintain said sleeve and driver bible properly positioned, and means whereby said detent is moved to interlock the key plug and the sleeve and driver bible when said key plug rotates said sleeve and driver bible as upon the application of picking torque to said key plug.

'6. In a lock of the class described, a lock body, a key plug, a sleeve and driver bible relatively to which said key plug rotates, drivers Vand tumblers in said key plug and bible adapted toI lock said plug to said bible to prevent rotation of the key plug relatively to said bible until said tumblers are properly alignedby a key, means mounting said sleeve and driver bible for rotation with said key plug upon application of picking torque to said key plug, means limiting said sleeve and driver bible to a slight degree of rotation, a detent spring pressed into a position to yieldingly maintain said sleeve and driver bible properly po sitioned, and means whereby said detent is mo-ved to interlockthe key plug and the sleeve and driver bible when said key plug rotates said sleeve and driver bible as by the application of picking torque thereto.

Y7. .In a lock of the class described, a lock body, a key plug, Va sleeve and driver bible relatively to which said key plug rotates, drivers and tumblers in said key plug and bible adapted to lock said plug and bible to prevent rotation of the key plug until said tumblers are l.properly aligned by a key, means Ymounting said sleeve and driver bible for rotation with said key plug uponapplication of picking torque to said key plug, a bore in said key plug, a pin mounted` in said sleeve and bible at a point substantially opposite said bore, a spring pressing said pin away from the key plug and against the lock body for yieldingly holding the sleeve and bible in a predetermined position, and means whereby said pin is moved against its spring and into said plug bore when said sleeve and bible are rotated as by the application of picking torque to the key plug.

8. In a lock of the class described, a lock body, a key plug, a sleeve and driver bible relatively to which said key plug rotates, drivers and tumblers in said key plug and bible adapted to lock said plug and bible to prevent rotation of the key plug until said tumblers are properly aligned by a key, means mounting said sleeve and driver bible for rotation with said key plug upon application of p-icking torque to said key plug, a bore in said key plug, a pin mounted in said sleeve and bible at a point substantially opposite said bore, a spring pressing said pin away from the key plug and against the lock body for yieldingly holding the sleeve and bible in a predetermined position, means whereby said pin is moved against its spring and into said plug bore when said sleeve and bible are rotated by the application oi picking torque to the key plug, and means limiting the rotation of said sleeve and bible to a predetermined unimportant degree.

9. In a cylinder lock of the sliding tumbler type, a cylinder lock body, a sleeve member having tumbler locking grooves, a key plug having tumblers and rotatable in said sleeve member, means mounting said sleeve for limited rotation relatively to said lock body whereby it may be rotated with said key plug upon application of picking torque to said key plug in preparation for the picking of the tumblers of said plug, and means movable relatively to said sleeve member for locking said key plug to said sleeve member upon rotation of said sleeve member by the application of picking torque to said plug.

1G. In a cylinder lock of the sliding tumbler type, a cylinder lock body, a sleeve member having tumbler locking grooves, a key plug having tumblers and rotatable in said sleeve member, means mounting said sleeve member for limited rotation relatively to said lock body whereby it may be rotated with said key plug upon application of picking torque to said key plug, and means movable relatively to said sleeve member for locking said plug to said sleeve member when said sleeve member is rotated by the application of picking torque to said plug.

ll. In a cylinder lock of the sliding tumbler type, a cylinder lock body, a sleeve member having tumbler locking grooves, a key plug rotatable I 12. In a .cylinder lock of theV sliding tumbler type, a Acylinder lock body, a sleeve member having tumbler locking grooves, a key plug rotatable in saidsleeve member and tumblers adapted normally to interlocksaid key plug and sleeve member, means mounting said sleeve for limited rotation relativelyto said lock body whereby it may be rotated with said key plug upon application of picking torque to said key plug in preparation for the picking of the tumblers of said plug, a pin carried by said sleeve member` and pressing against said lock body to yieldingly maintain said sleeve member against rotation, and means whereby said pin locks said key plug to said sleeve member upon rotation of said key plug and sleeve by the application of picking torque tosaid plug.

13. In a pin tumbler lock of the class having a cylinder and driver bible, and a key plug rotatable relatively to the cylinder and driver bible when the tumblers and drivers carried by said key plug and driver bible are properly aligned, the improvementv which comprises means mounting said bible for limited rotation with the key plug when picking torque is applied to said key plug when said tumblers and drivers are in locking position, and the provision of means for locking said key plug against release rotation moved into locking position by the said limited rotation of said bible with the key plug through the application of said picking torque.

14. In a pin tumbler lock of the class having a cylinder and driver bible, and a key plug rotatable relatively to the cylinder and driver biblewhen the tumblers and drivers carried by said key plug and driver bible are properly aligned, the improvement which comprises the mounting of said bible for limited rotation with the key plug when picking torque is applied to said key plug, and the provision of means for locking said key plug to said driver bible actuated by the said limited rotation of said bible with the key plug through the application of said-picking torque.

l5. In a pin tumbler lock of the class having a cylinder and driver bible, and a key plug rotatable relatively to the cylinder and driver bible when the tumblers and drivers carried by said key plug and driver bible are properly aligned, the improvement which comprises means mounting said bible for limited rotation with the key plug when picking torque is applied to said key plug, and the provision of a detent moved by the said limited rotation of said bible with the key plug through the application of said picking torque, said detent when so moved being adapted to lock said key plug against rotation relatively to said `bible.

`16. In a lock of the class described, a key plug, a control part relatively to which said key plug rotates, said control part being itself mounted for limited rotation, tumblers adapted to lock said key plug to said control part, said tumblers being .adapted to release said plug for free movement relatively to said control part when properly aligned by a key, said control part and key plug being rotatable together when picking torque is applied to said key plug in an attempt to pick the tumblers, and means movable relatively to said control part adapted to lock said plug against operative rotation actuated by the rotation of said control part through the said application of picking torque to the key plug.

1'7. In a cylinder lock of the sliding tumbler type, a cylinder lock body, a sleeve member mounted for limited rotation in said cylinder lock body and having a tumbler locking groove, a key plug rotatable in said sleeve and carrying tumblers normally projected into said groove except when properly positioned by a key, said key plug and sleeve being rotatable together when said key plug is rotated by the application of picking torque thereto in preparation for the picking of the tumblers, and means for locking said key plug to said sleeve member upon rotation of said sleeve with said key plug, said means normally restraining said sleeve against rotation whereby to overcome the inherent friction incidental to the key rotation of said key plug relatively to said sleeve. Y

18. In a lock of the class described, a lock body, a key plug, a series of tumblers, a control part to which said key plug is locked by said tumblers and relatively to which said key plug rotates when said tumblers are properly aligned by a key, means mounting said control part for rotation in said lock body, detent means maintaining said control part against rotation, said control part' and key plug being rotatable together against the force of said detent means when picking torque is applied to said key plug in an attempt to pick the tumblers, and means whereby said detent means locks said plug to said control part when said control part rotates with said key plug against the force of said detent means.

19. In a lock of the class described, a lock body, a key plug, a series of tumblers, a sleeve-like part relatively to which said key plug rotates when said tumblers are properly aligned by a key, means mounting said sleeve-like part forA rotation in said lock body, said sleeve-like part-and key plug being rotatable together when picking torque is applied to said key plug in an attempt to pick the tumblers, detent means yieldingly resisting rotation of said sleeve-like part with said key plug, and means whereby said detent means locks said plug to said sleeve-like part when said sleevelike part is rotated with said key plug.

20. In a lock of the class described, a lock body, a key plug, a series of tumblers, a control part to which said key plug is locked by said tumblers and relatively to which said key plug moves when said tumblers are properly aligned by a key,

means mounting said control part for movement in said lock body, said control part and key plug being movable together when picking pressure is applied to said key plug in an attempt to pick the tumblers, and means movable relatively to said control part for locking said key plug against rotation actuated by movement of said control part with said key plug.

2l. In a lock of the class described, a lock body, 

